Offaly Senior Hurling Championship 2009 Quarter Finals

[Lone Shark]

Just getting back to the Belmont game now, it was very disappointing but in fairness you'd have to say that Kinnitty did step it up a gear. Stephen Molloy hadn't played well all year but he played a big part, while their back line was completely on top - though I thought John Ryan gave James Rigney too much room under the dropping ball the whole game. I would have preferred to see someone like Flynn moved into that position.

None of the Egans got going in the full forward line either, though Alan did make a bit of headway when he was brought out the field in the second half - by that time the horse had bolted though.

You'd still say Kinnitty are a bit behind where they were last year, though not by nearly as much. I'd be less worried about Birr giving them an almighty hiding, but there's still only one winner of that game this weekend.

[GreatDayForTheParish]

I would like to praise the County Board for their selection of venues this weekend. Lets just hope that St.Brendan's Park will be able to take the Clareen/K/K game as planned, it should be a good one.

[Kemo Sabe]

great win for the town .some people on here suggesting that it was more about rynaghs than tullamore and that is just crap .if tullamore play to their potential they are a match for anyone .its time we wer giving a bit of credit but i doubt it very much on this site .anyway come on the town .

[Plain of the Herbs]

There’s been a nagging question for eleven months now, ever since Birr beat Kinnitty by 3 points in last year’s county final. That is – just how close were Kinnitty to toppling the champions?

Opinion varies. My own opinion since that October Sunday has been that Kinnitty were quite a bit off actually winning that day, despite the closeness on the scoreboard. Whatever your view, that question is about to be answered on Sunday in Banagher.

This, in effect, is Birr’s first round match, and we can assume that all hands will be on deck – all hands that are in the country at any rate. We can only speculate on how Pat Joe Whelahan lines them out though. Much interest will focus on full back, centre back and Barry Whelahan’s midfield partner.

Given that they appear to be going to be without two defenders (Claffey & Watkins), there’s a bit of a void to be filled. Paul Cleary had been full back for much of the grouo stages, with Dylan Hayden at centre back, though Cleary moved to 6 for the Clareen match to man-mark Joseph Berginwith Michael Verney in the full back role.

What will Pat Joe do here? Kinnitty have a significant attacking threat in the corners, so Verney may well be delegated to pick up Ódhrán Kealey with John Paul O’Meara in the other corner. That would leave Paul Cleary as the only viable alternative to pick up Fergal Kealey. Niall Claffey, if available, would be the ideal candidate to mark Kealey. Then again, Birr took us all by surprise a few years ago when they lined out with Claffey at full back – a move that worked all the way to Croke Park in March.

Donal Ryan can’t be ruled out either. He did well at corner back during the round-robin stages, he won’t be beaten for pace and is a viable alternative. That would free up Verney to go to full back, Cleary to centre back, and Hayden to wing back – or the attack. Paul Molloy and Barry Harding could hurl in defence or attack as needs be. They’ve plenty of attacking threats anyway with the Hanniffys, Brown and Sean Ryan, with Paul O’Meara to do the foraging.

I wonder which Kinnitty will turn up. The one which came back from a seven point deficit during the third quarter against Belmont which went on to demolish Belmont in the first half of the replay would ensure a good match. If the Kinnitty which sleepwalked the latter stages of the group – or that did the same in the second half the last day then they can forget it.

Kinnitty need Stephen Molloy getting on the ball, and using it well. They also need Colm Coughlan hurling. Bou who would make way if Coughlan were to hurl? Hardly Shane Kinsella who did well against Belmont and finished with 1-1 to his credit. Richie McRedmond maybe. Kinnitty also need whatever McRedmonds are on to hurl to their optimum, something that doesn’t always happen.

While Birr hurl a direct game, they do tend to protect possession and their support of the ball-carrier is usually top-notch. The upshot of this is that there will be few enough skied clearances and there will be little enough breaking ball for James Rigney to gather and clear. That is, I don’t expect to be asking myself “how did he know the ball would be there?” as much as I did last week. Stephen Brown doesn’t appear that mobile but it is he who is usually on hand to take a pass when a colleague needs assistance. Similarly Paul O’Donnell will be mainly preoccupied with a man-marking role than assisting Rigney in this role. How Kinnitty perform without Rigney playing his preferred game remains to be seen.

Kinnitty haven’t done enough this year to convince me they might frighten Birr, never mind beat them. Birr to win it convincingly.


I wasn’t at the drawn match between Clareen and Kilcormac (the parish was hurling at the same time) so I’m not going to comment. Apparently Peter Healion did a good job marling Joseph Bergin in the draw, and if this was to be repeated Clareen would be in a spot of bother. Daniel Currams could make his return here, and with the team who had their chance the last day generally not winning the replay, much signs point towards a Kilcormac win.